Motor-vehicle gear-shift.



C. H. STUBBS. MOTOR VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT.

`APPLICATION FILED ocr. 3. 1914.

Patened June 2O,` 1916. l i

R. l. O T m w; m m m w 2 Q Q 4 e o 0 7 a b b 77.. .b q oo o w a0.

v- WITNESSESI'.-

AT TORNE YS.

`c. H. S'fuss. MOTOR VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT. APPLICATION FILED OCT 8 I9I4Patented Jne' 20, 1916.

INVENTOR. C//'s fs/ 677/55 BY Y ATT i WITNEssEs/ l I yfmi To all @chamzz mali/geciteerd; l

Beitknoivn that I`,-Ci1aRLi3siHiS'rnsya l citizen] of the United States;and 1 a "resident i of; Berkeley; county lof Alamedm and State' y of iCalifornia, have inventedflcertain 'new iisefui Improvements linMotor-Vehicle jGear-hiftsy oi'j'wxvhich theqfollowing is a` xspecificatioIL;y

The invent ionf` relates tokmeans for select i VHm'otor drivenvehiclesiby which the speed dri ingshaftis variedad` i t An objectiefthey inventionfis;tovjprovide means for` establishing a ploitality lof"driving before itis established.

l Another object `of vide mechanically? operated l` means for posi-`tively@` placing theygear shiftfmeclranism in 11snch relation,rthativhen Such `"mechanism,1 is fkoperated.` thel desiredg speed@ratiolis obtained.' i "Another bjectloftlie'invention is: to pror1 vi de@means fivhereby the "operation: of the "clutchpedal seriesmechanicallyto shift the i `gears into such `,position the' previously selectedsine/ed,orgeslniatioisgestablished` n V Another` object offtheinvention-is `tov provide` azlsmall andwlight gear( shiftingidevice i which l is.ofi compara-tively Ismall 1 cost and. whiclris positive initsactionfA1@ furtherv objectief tlieyinvention' is to provide meanewhebytheiininnfmevement of `the 'clutch pedalf disengages t the clutch, theiitrthen mvenientl` places the transmission` gears in` neutral;position; and the con t tinned movement fplace's the gears in thesezThev invention i possesses other af'dmnta-` geousl features; some fofwhich; with the foregoing,` 1zvvill be set forth `at length# in the 1following 'descniption,` Where I, shall outline in `ySelected. "fo ylustration in theydiawngs acL complaining@ 'd ,"entgspeciicatio n y ifflnwthefdrawings have sh Wn onlyone mf fmyageneric fing" and`shifting;thetransmissiongears in y l ratio" etweentheengineorymotorlfandthe Urelations orspeedratios betweenwtheengine i and the driven .shaftand "for mechanically selectlng thedeslredrelation `gn'vspeedratio i heinvention is to prol follithatiformoffthe inventionlwhich lhavew y inmyntiomfbut 15855006, than 'I ovnot i-,Eliinit j linvention* t, Y y thesedrawin 'ity `loifyforrns,

succeeding. the description ofxny inp FFICE'? i voliannnsyn." srUBBs, onBERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

asie, and it is essential that the clutch be disengaged before the gearsare shifted.` The selection of speeds` ordriving relations' and theshifting of the gears to obtain these relations is accomplishedprincipally atfthe present time by hand, throughhthe intervenn tion of agear 'shift lever. The present 'invention 'contemplates the eliminationof the ordinary gear shift lever andthe accomplishment of ythe shiftingofthe gears by the i movement Jof the clutch pedal immediatelysucceeding the disengagement of the clutch i 1" spcification of LettersPatient. Patented June 210, 1916... Application"filed'betober 8, 1914.Serial No. 865,661. i i

which is.produced by a depression of the u clutch pedal, Selectivemeansare provided shifting apparatus prior to the time of oper in speed ratiomay beanticipated and in` stantly'made'when occasion for the changeSmcethe gears may not be shifted t arises. while' the clutch is engaged,many of the disastrous results Anovv experienced by `motor-ists are`prevented and the gears .are

`always properlymoved into or'out of engagne'ment.'k The selectlvemechanism 1s ldithe selection occurs simultaneously Withfthe operationof the device. vIn the electric 'gear shift, now in use,a partialcircuit is estabation vof the clutchpedal7 sothat a changelishedrwhich'when completed y thedepres .sion ofthe clutch pedal causest e' movement fof the desired gears, but the". actualselectibn is notaccomplished Vuntl'the clutch Lpedal is` depressed. It'h'asalsobeenproposed to in' sert springs in the selecting mechanism, but theuse ofsprings in such a vital part of the automobile Ais not advisable.*n t y In the drawings Ihave shownyone form fof'- the apparatus of' `myVinventionfandin A gs'f Figurerl pa-ratus 'of my invention incombination' with the coperating` parts of an'sutomoloile.n` Fig,

2 lis perspective view ofthe opposite sideis a. perspectivefvieiiv ofthe ap-` 11o p a n l for producing a certain setting oi the gear of aportion of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a perspective .view of the selectingand neutralizing device, parts thereof'being removed to 4better discloselthe interior construction. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the samedevice with the neutralizing and shifting parts removed. Fig. 5 isavertical cross section through a portioniof the selecting device.

VVhen-it is desired to shift the transmissiongears from one drivingrelation to another, the selective apparatus must be Ffirst operated,after which the actual movement of the gears is effected, and for thisreason I shall first describe the selecting apparatus. The selective'apparatus is preferably larranged in -a `casing 2, having removablesid'e and top plates, and the casing is preferably rigidly attached ltosome suitable part, of

' the vehicle, in vproper relation to the transmisslomgear case 3.' Thecasing 2 -is preferably divided longitudinally by the verticalv wall 4and the parts of the selecting a paratus fare preferably arranged at onesi e of thev vertical wall.

lThe apparatus consists 'of as plurality of ,jf blocks orslides'5, 6',7,'- 8, arranged one above the, .other in the casing and adapted toslide longitudinally of the casing.` The number of slides .is equal tothe number of speed ratios which the transmission gear, set is capableof producing, the usual number being foingthat is, three forward speedsand 'one reverse speed. The slides are arranged in grooves formed .inthe side Wall 9 and vertical'rwalll of the casing, and each slide isprovided With a pin 5-6-7a-8, which project respectively through slots5b--6"- 711-8b in the side wall 9. Pivoted to each pin'is a link 56 c 8%which ispivoted at its opposite end to aora-nk which operates the propergear shifting rod.-v In the present instancelinks 5 and 6 'are connectedto the opposite ends of crank 12 and links 7 c and 8c are connected tothe opposite ends of crank 13. Crank 13 is Vconnected toy lever-.14, to

which the gear shifting rod 15 is attached,

and crank 12 is connected to lever 16. to

; gears are in neutra-l position,

y1nto alineinent With any ofthe slides. The' transm1ssion gea-rs. In the`which gear-shifting rod 17 is attached. The

arrangement of the transmission gears is such that av movement ofeither'shifting rod 15 or 17 in eitherv direction from its neutral.

. movement of theslides is a vertically movable carriage- 21, which ismovable trans,- iversely of the slides so that itmay be moved carriageis .versely of the slides 'the vehicle.

-there are in the neutral position directed 'its 'movement 'by a guide2v2 formed on the "side wall 9. Means l and for'holding it in alinementWith the desired slide.

Pivotally attached to the carriage is a link 23, which is connected atits upper end to the lever 24 which'i's secured' to the ysha-lit 25,

rotatably mounted in the easing. ItV is evi- 'dent that rotatio" oftheshaft 25 will pro- 'duce a vertical movfrnent of the carriage 21.Rotation ofthe 'shaft 25, to produce the desired selective position of.the carriage 21, .may be' accomplished in many Ways, one of `which isshown herein. Secured to the shaft '25 is a' crank arm 26,'to which isattached the rod27, lwhich' `is moved by 'gi-.lever Q8 arranged adjacentthe steering wheel 29 of Thoend of .the lever lies adjacent the quadrant31 `which is provided with notches or markings 32', and when the leverismoved to one of these notches, the

are provided for moving the carriage transoarria'geai is moved intoalinernent with one of the' Aslides 5, 6, 7, 8 or is moved into theneutral position.A In the present instance fivel '1n-)tenes' B2 and fourslides 5, 6, 7, 8, Afour of thenotohes corresponding to the four'slidesand 4(me corresponding to the neutral-position.' When the carriageis itis not alned with any of. the.v slides, and struction the neutral'is its lowermost position. The Slide 8V is spaced apart from the bottomof the casing a suflicient distance to form the neutral position at thebottom, but it 'is evident that the vertical spacing ofthe slides can bechanged to place the neutral position at anydesirable point. f

The selecting lever 28 issecured to a rod 33, which passes down throughthe steering in the present conn position of the carriage column 34`andwhich is connected to the rod 27 by any suitable means, such as thegears' 35-36 and the' lever 37. There is, therefore, a positiveconnection between the lever 28 and the carriage 21 and the movef mentof the carriagev the'movement ofthe Arranged inthec'arriage 21 is aplunger 38, which is provided ijvith aA pin or lug 39 which extendsthrough a .longitudinal slot 41 in the carria ef and when the carriageis alined with-a s ide and the plunger moved, the slide, ing gear shiftrod 15 or' 17, ,is moved. When lever.

. the carriage is in the neutral position, the

plunger isvnot alined with a slide, so that the'movement of theplungerdoes notv di- I recitly produce a movement of the slide, but

if previous tothe movement of the plunger the. gears were in a drivingrelation, the.

movement of the plunger indirectly produces a movementof operative slideto its normal position. A

Means are also provided for latching or v1s' simultaneous with.

and consequently the corresponde holding the carriage 21 in itsdifferent operative positions, so that the jolting of the "vehiclewillnot dislodge it from its selected position, and alsothatctheoperator may p l feel thecarriage aline itself in proper Aposition.Arranged inthe carriage and partly projecting therefrom at one side is alatch or `ball 61 which is pressed outward by the spring 62.' Formed inthe wall 9"or the. guide 22 `is a lseries of depressions 63, one

`corresponding `to each operative posltlonof .the carriage; LVVhen'thecarriage is moved 'to the desired position'the'ballj seats inthe i,corresponding depression and holds the carr1 age against accidentalmovement;

` qcasng2, and preferablyon the vertical wall `-to pei-Init the*vertical. and` longitudinal movement of .the pin 39,` Secured to theplate L2` isa` pinorr'shaft `which preferably iextendsthr'ough--a'longitudinal sl'ot in e f the side wallof 'the` casing 2,-and`towhich n `:so

thatjfthepedal has a partial.. movement 4independed of. lmetgltf'oltfthevlpedal"operaties toy disengage `the clutch, and"fthe`further movement of the pedal opetatesgto .movefthegplunger 38.;

engagtih "ws .in `the transmission gear!y set desiitedrspee :e thereon`is a'y neutralizing.. slide in thekplane "of theffprojeetiu pas 5gg-6;eifel-rh a 51"ismoved, Qit ,contee w qlNhen theseipins:are'iveitical I,i position,4 or in auchy position.tluit4V the gears`II"insthegearboxareinneutralposition. f

` Arranged adjacent the carriage 21 and i longitudinally slidablymounted within the f atV its :Eifrwardy endto the` 'clutch pedal 46.11`Theecould-actionbetweenithe,linltl and thev inadfp ithrough the mediumll of a Iflongitudinalf Slot: I, mi L"the link 45,

which "is engaged .by @pini I )n'fthe` pedal, so'

thfliak.,1Thegiininalgmovef ,e intoiieutral-iositon before the gears ofthe liratio.; are movedintofengage-y j menti` Secured L Ito` each slidevis a pini y' 'central or neutral `position in th .Means are lprovidedfor causing the first half ofthe movement of the slide 4t2 to move theneutralizing slide 51, to cause the pins el-'e-Ke-S 'to be verticallyalined in neutral position. Pivoted to the' pin or shaft 52 on the slidei12 is a link which is provided v with a longitudinal slot 5% in whichis disposed a pin which is secured to the neutralizing slide 51. Formedat the end of the slot 54 is al pocket 56 in which the pin l55 engageswhen the slide 42 is in its normal retracted position.y Arranged belowthe link 53 is a Contact block 57 fwhich is preferably adjustable, thesets'crew :S8-being provided for that purpose. At the beginning of'thegear shifting operation the pin v55 is seated in the pocket 56 so thatthe slide 51 moves'fortvard simultaneously withthe'slide 42.` .When vtheslide `5l has .moved a suflieientfdistancel to place the slides 5, 6,and 8in neutral positions, the link 53 'engages the contact block 57 andis tiltedv thereby, against the pull of the spring 59, moving the`pocket 56 away jiroin the pin 55 andbrin'ging the pin into the groove 54. The 'slide 42 then continues to move forward independentfof: theslide 51. The latter half of the movement ofthe slide 42 moves theplunger38 to the end ofjits throw, thereby moving either of the alinedslides 5, 6, 7, or 8A out of neutral positionl and effecting the lproperengagement Vofthe transmissionl that as one slidel of one pair is movedforfward, the."othe is' moved backward.` In .Fig 4, slide Gis movedforward andl slide `5 moved backward. I-n its bac f ard movement, ltheljbackward 'to its normal position. In Fig. 3' the slide 42 is showninits extreme advance position, `having moved ythe pin 6, I I andlconsequently caused thepine to bel 'moved to the oppo,n site end of itsslot, and in so moving, the

are connected tothe' opposite ends of pinmoves the neutralizing slideetv , e 190 cranks '12 and 13 respectively, it is evident 'pin 5'hasmoved the'neutralizing slide 51,

backward toits normal position.

Since the movemenfiiof eachslide the .movement of slide' to the right ofthe places the 'gears e high gear relat1on, a movement of slnir'le tothe right places the gears in the .lntermediate gear-7 relation, amovement of; slide ,-7 to-the1right places the gears in -sionV gears'inneutral position, the` carriage proper direction establishes a specificdriving relation, I shall assume' that U. the low gear. relation and amovement ofslide Beto the right 'places the gearslin the .reverse gearrelation. `In Figs. 3

21 is moved toits vneutral position at the @the'plunger 38 vwillnotengage anylslide G-Z-S whichl are not in neutral position aretlienjmoved to neutral position bythe movement of the neutralizing slide5L, Tliefoperatioii of the yapparatusisas folloivsg Assuming that theVslides, 6, 7,'8 'arej` 1 0 in neutral or` 'ceiitrally alined po s1tion,; and 1t is desired to move the transmission geai's intoiinesli,ilie'levei' 28'is set at itliefproper vertically into alinement Withfthecorre,-

L i5 spending slide, for instance slide 6. When it isz'desir'cd to shiftthe gears, the clutch pedal 46 is fully 'depressed andthe proper f gearsare then enn'ieslied. i The .-initial movev Imentof'tliefcliitch:pedalreleases the clutch, 'and,thefcoiit'inued movement produces` the thenext portioniof tlieiindvement" causes the slides vand consequentlyktlie gears to be i niovedto'neutral position,. an'd ythe continued.further movement of the pedaly ,causes i, lected driving relation. The'clutch pedal is' tlienreleasei 385 1. gear.,shiftingapparatuscomprising l gearingfor establisliinga plurality ofdriv;

`ing `relatmiis and means for shitting said w gears to-establishfany-ofsa'id relations, 'said l plungercarried by the carriage moving theahn'edslide. i f

, *ingH `relatio'nsand means "for shifting said gears to establish anyof said relations, said means comprising a plurality of slides conneetedto said-gears, va carriage arranged adjacentf'said slides, means for'moving thefcar` slidesfand rmeans `slidably supported on `thecarriageadaptedA to engage and move the i alined sl-ide.- 5,5'

, ing Arelations/andmeans `for shifting sai gears, toestablish anypfsaid relations, said meansk comprising 'a ,plurality of slides connectedto .said gears, a 4cariiagefmovable into bottom of the yeasfi'ig- 2, inwhich position notch 3S, and this moves the carriage 21':

' iially movable slide.

the prop ergcars yto be enmesli'ed yiii the se-` A means comprisingvaplurality of slides con4 nectedto said,` gears, af carriage Amovableinto alineiiient with any of said l slides and a' Y' ing relations.sliitting'rods connected to said y y gearing, slides connectedtov saidshifting 2; i-r gear shifting .apparatus comprising lgearingi'orestablishing a plurality` of diiv-A l riage intofalinementrwith any oneof said` 3. gear, sliiftingfapparatus comprising gearingfor-establishinga plurality of driviy f alineinentwith anyone of said slides, means.. fforrv moving saidcarriage, a, plunger in said carriage andmeansformoving the plungerv longitudinally independently of the car`v l' Y mA'gear shifting apparatus comprising l across the ends. of said slides,a1' plunger carried by said carriage adapted to be movedlongitudiiially,` a longitudinally movable slide adjacent saiilqiliingerand connectedj thereto .andvcnieans` for moving said slide llongitudinally.

5; A gearfysliifting apparatus comprising gearing 'for establishing aplurality of driving rela tions,jsliifting rods connected to said 8(gearing, slides' connected to .said 'shifting rods, a carriage' movableacross tlie ends of 'said slides, a plunger "carried by saidcarriagefadapted to bemoved vloiigitudinally land `thereby move thecorresponding slide,

a pin on said' plunger, a.''longitudinallymovable slide arrangedadlacent 4said carriage1 provided witlia slot in which .saidlpi'n engages and means for moving lsaid longitudi- A gear shifting.v apparatuscomprising gearing for establishing a plurality of driv- ,ing relations,shifting rods connected to said gearing, slides connected to saidshifting rods', acarria-ge movable transversely of said 95 slides, aplunger carried'by y:the carriage adapted-toi be moved longitudinallyind'ependently of the carriage and thereby move the' corresponding slideland. means4 oper ated by the initial movement of the plunger 10o forn'ioving the gez'irs'intoneutral vposition and by vthefurtl'iermovement*ofthe plunger in` the .same direction for moving thegears into driving relation. i

7. A gearsliit'ting apparatus comprising 1o gearing for establishingaplurality of drivrods, a carriage movable ,ti'alnsverselyjof saidslides, a plunger vcarried -b'y the' carriage 11o I adapted to bemovedtransversely` and thereby move the corresponding` slide, alongimilly'movable slide. ,L 8. A Igear lshifting, apparatus-comprisinggearing for establishing a'plu'rality. of driving relations, a shifting'rod connected to (said gearing, fs'lides connected losaid shift- 12oing i"(id, a carriage movable transversely of said Slides, 'meanslongitudinally -slidable in `the carriage ;for individually moving saidslidesand means for holdingtlie carriage in alinem'en't with any ofsaidA slides. 11A ygear.y shifting apparatus comprising g for'establishing a pluralityfof drivf ing aurions, a Himalaya-f slidesconnected to saidjgearing, a longitudinally' movable' plunger,y adaptedto be moved into alinement "13 Qnfieaoaa l y i i .Z i 533 'ven shaft forestablishing aA plurality of drivingrelations, a 'clutch between theengine andj gearing, a foot lever foroperating said.`I` clutch,mechanically operatedv means' for positivelyselectini; the desireddriving .relation'4 and meansloosely lconnected to said ootlever and'operativeliytlie com plete de pression of 'said lever for establishingthe selected driving relation.

16. In a motor vel .'cle, an engin',l a driven d shaft, gearing;`between the engine and the driven shaft for `establishing` a pluralityof *driving relations, a clutch between seidengine and gearing, a -oot.lever operative by its initial movement to diseugage said `clutch,mechanically operated means for `positively selecting` the `desireddriving: relation While the 'clutchis engaged and means i loosely`connected to said foot lever operative by the movement of the foot leverafter i the clutch;` is disengaged to move the gears i irstlinto neutralposition andV then estalrV flish 'the `previouslyselected driving'relation.` @gear sluiting'` apparatus compris- `gearin,9; forestablisliing.; `a plurality of [driving relations and means :forshifting `said `gears toestablishl any of said relations, "saidmeanscomprising a plurality of slides "connected to said gears, acarriage movable ,"across the ends of said slides, a plunger carp`riedfby said carriage adapted'to be moved Vlongitudinally, a'longitudinally movable `plate adjacent saidplunger and connected y'thereto, anda neutralizing slide mediate/ly y connected to said plate. I

y \1S."A gear shifting apparatus comprising gearing for establishing aplurality of `driving relations and means for sliifting said gears toestablish any of said relations, said means comprising a plurality ofslides connected to said gears, a carriage movable aoross theends ofsaid slides, a plunger cary ried `by said carriage adapted to be movedlongitudinally, a longitudinally movable "plate adjacent said plungerand connectedd thereto, a neutralizing slide mediately con` `nectedtosaid plate, and means for disen gaging said mediate connections `whenthel slldes havebeen moved to neutral npsitmn.

`19. A gear shifting apparatus comprising gearing for establishing aplurality? "1 riv- `ing relations, shiftingrods connected to said"gearing", slides connected to said sliifting jrods, `aunember adaptedtobe moved into alinement Witliany of said. slides and. mov# able tooperate 'the alined slide, a longitufdinally movable plate connectedwith and operative to move said member, `a neutralize `'ingslideadjacent said plate, and a pivoted @link` connecting saidneutralizing`slide and:

,plate.

205A eagr shifting 'apparatus 'comprising i gearing or establishing aplurality of driving relations, shifting rods connected to A y gealm'g,Slides connected to said shiftleo ing mds, ai member adapted to be moved.IIJO alllemelll with :my of Said slides ando Vund means fordisconnetingsuid link when the gears have'been moved to neutralposition. f

seid gearing, slides .Connected to said shifting rods, e member adaptedto'y be moved i this 3rd dey of October, 1914. 21. A gear shiftinapparatus comprising gearing for estab ishing .a plurality. of drivingrelations, shifting rods' connected to `lintoiziline'ment with anyofseid slides mid 2o movable te operate the alined slide, alongitudinellymovable `plate `onneeted with end- :fing seid neutralizing slide vandplate and 25 means for moving said plate.

In testlmony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco,Californie,

QHARLES H.V STUBBS. l

